1. FUN: The most important
rule is to have fun while learning new skills, meeting new
people
and enjoying baseball.
2. All games will begin as per the indication of the ETBA/WABL Schedule.
Wexford Park: 6:30pm game
start, no new inning after 8:15pm, Hard stop at 8:30pm
Ted Reeves Park: 7:00pm game start, no new
inning after 8:45pm, Hard stop at 9:00pm
Wishing Well Park: 7:00pm game start, no new inning after 8:45pm,
Hard stop at 9:00pm
After August 1st, games at Wexford Park will begin at 6:15pm with a hard
stop of 8:15pm due to sunlight. Games played under artificial lights
atTed Reeves and Wishing Well are not affected.
3. Cancellation:
Games may be canceled by the Home Field Convenor prior to the game and
any
such cancellation will be communicated Two(2) hours before Game Start.
If there is no
cancellation by the Home Field convenor the teams must go to the park as
scheduled.
Thereafter, the decision to cancel a game or any part of a game because
of playing
conditions is at the discretion of the umpire(s). All umpire’s decisions
are final.
4. The home team will be determined by the schedule. (Visitors versus
Home)
5. The home team is to supply the official scorekeeper, one(1) new Game
ball and
good second ball for each game.
6. Players are to be present at the game 15 minutes before game start.
7. Each team’s Line up should also be exchanged with the opposing coach
fifteen(15)
minutes before the commencement of the Game. A consecutive batting order
must be
given to the scorekeeper with the players jersey numbers and names at
this time as well.
8. No player shall be listed on the game line up if he or she is unable
to play a
defensive position. All players listed on the line up sheet must bat.
9. Pre-game warm-up: home team has the right to the playing field five
(5) minutes
before scheduled game time. All other warm ups are to take place in the
bullpen or side
areas of the diamond before game start.
10. Minimum Number of Players:
Each team must have a minimum of Eight(8) players to play an official
game.
Subject to Rule Eleven(11) below, if a team is unable to field Eight(8)
players by the
scheduled start time of 6:30, the game will be declared forfeit and a
score of 7-0 will be
entered in favour of the non-defaulting team.
11. A grace period of 15 minutes will be allowed to reach the minimum of
Eight(8)
players. Once the minimum players are reached the game will commence
immediately.
Curfew time remains unaffected with the hard stop at 2 hours from
official game time as noted on the schedule.
12. Late arriving players may enter the game after it has commenced to
assume an
unoccupied defensive playing position once time has been granted by the
Plate or line
Umpire. If the team has a maximum number of fielders on the diamond
already, the late
arriving player must be inserted into the defensive line-up the
following inning.
13. Late or additional batters must be added to the bottom of the
batting order.
14. All players must bat in the order presented to the official
scorekeeper prior to the
start of each game.
15. Winning team is responsible for submitting the results of the game
to the
leagues to agincourt-wexfordbaseball@hotmail.com within 48 hours or by
calling their local convenor. Scores not submitted in a timely manner
will be considereda loss for both teams when determining playoff
standings.
16. Substitutions are only allowed at the end of an inning except in the
case of a
pitching change or an on-field injury. A pitching change must be an
onfield substitution.
17. Any player leaving the field during an inning due to an injury must
remain out of
the game for the balance of the defensive inning before re-entering the
game in a
defensive position. The player removed for injury may take their next
scheduled turn at
bat. A player unable to take their turn at bat, after being removed from
the field due to an
injury, shall be removed from the line-up and further play in the game
(this is not an out
nor is it considered batting out of turn). A batter or runner may not
have a pinch runner
unless the injury occurs during the player’s turn as batter or runner.
The player who
represents the last recorded out shall be substitute runner.
18. A 5 run mercy shall apply to all innings.
19. Tied games are allowed during regular season play.
During playoffs and the Championship Game Tie extra innings can be
played
subject to curfew and maximum game time rules. If the game remains tied
or the inning
cannot be completed and the home team is trailing, then the tie will be
broken by
reverting to the last winning inning.
20. A regulation game consists of 7 innings. A game will be considered
official if
3-1/2 or 4 innings have been completed. 3-1/2 innings will be considered
official if the
home team is ahead at the time or any time they are at bat.
21. All Players and coaches will be dressed in a baseball team uniform
as issued by
the league (Coaches uniform being a shirt and a cap) Coaches must wear
closed toed
shoes and long pants or baseball pants. No Visible Jewelry is permitted
on the diamond.
If it is not removable, it must be taped down and covered for the
player’s protection.
22. Only Rubber cleats are to be worn on the East Toronto Baseball
Association or
Wexford-Agincourt Baseball League’s playing fields. Metal cleats are
prohibited at
all levels of play below Midget.
23. It is mandatory that all players wear a protective athletic support
(Jill for girls or
Jock for boys).
The use of mouth guards while playing infield positions (including
pitchers) is strongly
encouraged.
24. All Catchers are required to wear full catcher’s equipment and a
catcher’s mitt
during the game and warm ups in all divisions.
25. Coaches, parents and/or players (other then the team’s catcher)
warming up the
pitcher either on the field or in the bullpen must wear a protective
mask.
26. Batting helmets must be worn by all batters, base runners and
batters in the on
deck circle. Helmets cannot be removed when the player is on the field
of play. Any
player intentionally removing his or her helmet while on the field of
play (unless time is
called) will be declared out.
Chin straps must be fastened and remain so until the batter/runner is
off the
playing field. Any player throwing their helmet (whether on the field or
in the
dug out) is subject to ejection at the discretion of the umpire.
27. Protests:
Coaches, parents and players are reminded that house league baseball at
ETBA/WABL emphasizes sportsmanship, fair play and mutual respect for
players,
coaches and umpires.
JUDGEMENT CALLS BY UMPIRES CANNOT BE PROTESTED.
Examples of judgment calls are:
Is a batted ball fair or foul;
Is a base runner safe or out;
Balls and strikes calls.
Protests can only be lodged with respect to decision based solely on a
point
of rules.
Protests will only be accepted and considered if the following steps are
followed:
a) If an occurrence for which a protest can be made takes place, the
“protesting” manager shall request that time be called
b) The protesting manager shall clarify with the umpire responsible for
call
related to the protestable occurrence and seek an explanation of the
callin question from the responsible umpire. Requests for
assistance/conference are at the discretion of the umpire who made the
call;
c.) If a protest is to be lodged, the protesting manager shall inform
the home
plate umpire who shall request that the official scorer record the
relevant
time and details (i.e., number of outs, runners on base, batter, etc and
the
nature of the protest;
d) Play then resumes, keeping in mind that the umpire’s decision is
final and
that curfew and time limits remain in effect without regard to the delay
caused by the protest;
e) At the conclusion of the game the home plate umpire shall ask the
protesting manager if he or she wishes to maintain the protest and if
so,
the protesting manager and the umpire shall write out the protest and
the
umpire’s comments on the back of the official score sheet and the
protesting manager and the protesting manager and the umpires shall the
back of the score sheet;
f) Protest must be submitted to the convenor within twenty-four hours
along
with a protest fee of $25.00 (payable to East Toronto Baseball
Association
or Wexford-Agincourt Baseball League if paid by cheque);
g) A committee of 5 executive members (two ETBA, two WABL and one
from the SBA) will review the protest within 72 hours of receipt;
h) If the protest is denied, the $25.00 protest fee is forfeit. If the
protest
is allowed, the fee will be returned and the game will be replayed from
the
point of the protest (as if the game had been suspended) and game time
limits remain in effect.
28. No smoking or use of tobacco products is permitted on the playing
field, the
dugouts or the immediate vicinity of the dugouts (This applies to
coaches, players and
umpires).
29. Absolutely no ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES are allowed in the park or parking
lot
during the game. This also applies to street drugs.
30. Sportsmanship:
Displays of poor sportsmanship by players or coaches will not be
tolerated. Be
reminded, the umpires have the discretion to remove any coach or player
from the
game or the field for disciplinary reasons. Regardless of an umpire’s
exercise of
discretion, an “offending” player’s coach has the discretion to remove
the player from
the game for disciplinary reasons. In these circumstances both the home
plate umpire
and the opposing coach shall be notified and Rule 14 will not apply to
the disciplined
player.
Examples of conduct subject to discipline:
a) Players caught throwing dirt;
b) Players or coaches deliberately directing discourteous and/or
disrespectful
remarks to the opposing team.
c) Any player not on the field may not play Ball or Run around. The
players
must sit on the bench with the rest of the team unless they are given
permission to leave the bench by the coach.
31. Respect for Officials
Any Coach or player who abuses and umpire or opponents either verbally
or physically
will be ejected from the game and suspended for the next two league or
play off games.
Additional suspension may be determined by the The Joint executive
committee. The
umpire must notify the umpire-in-cheif as soon as possible of any
infraction.
All coaches are responsible for their parents and spectators. If either
abuse the umpire
or opponents, verbally, physically or otherwise the coach will be asked
to control this
person(s) or they will be ejected from the park. If the person(s) will
not leave the park
and continue to car on the abuse, the umpire will forfeit the game to
the opposing team.
The umpire must notify the umpire-in-chief as soon as possible of any
such infraction.
32. Contact Rule: As written by Ontario Baseball Association
No player shall maliciously run into another player. Contact shall be
considered malicious
if it involves:
a) Intentional excessive force
b) Intent to injure
c) Deliberate attempt by a runner to dislodge the ball
d) A runner making no legitimate effort to reach the base
e) A runner who could have reasonably slid or otherwise avoided contact
and
still reached the base
Penalty: Player is ejected from the game and declared out.
i) Malicious contact is to be penalized whether committed by an
offensive or
defensive player. In the case of a defensive player being ejected for
malicious contact, the runner will be called safe according to the
result ofthe play at the discresion of the umpire.
ii) The ball is dead and all other runners shall return to their last
legally
occupied base at the time of the contact.
iii) A runner guilty of malicious contact is out even if the fielder
loses
possession of the ball.
iv) A runner guilty of malicious contact after scoring a run shall not
be declared
out, but is still ejected.
v) This rule applies at home plate and all other bases.
vi) A runner may make incidental contact with a fielder as long it is
not
"malicious" as defined above. The rule does not prohibit contact. It
simply
requires player to make a reasonable attempt to avoid contact, and to
ensure that any incidental contact is not malicious in nature.
vii) If contact occurs where a defensive player blocked the base path
clearly
without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called according to
specified below in age related playing rules. If this obstructed runner
uses
this opportunity to collide maliciously with the fielder, he would be
declaredsafe due to the obstruction, but still ejected from the game.
33. Diamond layout:
Base distance = 75 Feet
Diagonal dimensions : home to 2nd / 1st to 3rd = 106 Feet and 3/4
inchesPitching Rubber = 50 Feet
34. Batting:
Continuous Batting order shall apply.
Dropped third strike does not result in an out if first base is
unoccupied or dropped third
strike occurs when there are two outs and bases are loaded.
Batter is at liberty to attempt to advance to first base unless tagged
out or put out. All
other base runners can advance at their own risk.
All batters at plate or in the on-deck circle must wear a helmet with a
chin strap secured.
Thrown bats will be:
- Warning on First Occurrence
-Automatic out on the Second Occurrence
-ejection from the game upon the Third Occurrence.
A batter may not switch sides of the plate after the first pitch has
been thrown.
infield fly rule applies as called by the umpire.
35. Runners:
Runners are allowed a full lead off and the ability to steal the next
vacant base at their
own risk.
Runners may advance at their own risk on a dropped third strike to the
next available
base, including home.
Runners may tag up on a caught fly ball to try and obtain the next
available base at their
own risk if safe to do so.
Contact rule is in effect as per Ontario Baseball Association’s Playing
Rules.
Any runner or player who interferes with a ball while being fielded or
an infielder fielding a
ball will be called out by the umpire, as per the standard rules of
baseball.
A player obstructing the path of the runner’s base path who does not
have possession
of the ball will cause the play to be stopped, the play to be called
dead and all runners
being awarded the outcome of the play as determined by the umpires, as
per the
standard rules of baseball.
Sliding at home plate to avoid contact with the catcher is mandatory
when the play is
being made at home plate.
36. Pitching:
Each pitcher shall have 5 warm up pitches upon taking the mound.
A pitcher may only pitch 3 consecutive innings during a regulation game.
Balks will be called at the PeeWee level on the first offense. No
warning will be given on
the first balk and the base being awarded to the batter and each runner.
Any pitcher who hits 3 batters while in the pitching position will be
removed from the
mound and may continue in the game in another defensive position.
If a pitcher hits a batter intentionally he or she is to be ejected from
the game.
One trip per pitcher to the mound will be allowed by a designated coach
during an inning.
The second trip will be to remove the pitcher from the mound. No extra
coaching is to
take place at this time.
Pitcher must be replaced from the field.
37. End of offensive half of the inning:
The offensive half of the inning shall be retired when 3 outs are
counted against the team
at bat or the mercy rule takes effect. The mercy is limited to 5 runs
per inning as set out
in Rule 17 above.
38. Defensive Positioning:
All Players must play equal playing time. No Player may sit out a second
time until all
players have sat out one inning. No player may sit a third inning until
all players have sat
out two innings. No players may sit out a fourth inning until all
players have sat out three
innings. No player may sit out two innings in a row.
Any coach found sitting out players illegally will be assessed an
automatic team out
during their next at bat and have the proper player placed on the field
immediately.
Any coach found doing this more then once in one game will be suspended
for the
balance of the game and for the next league or play-off game.
39. Courtesy Rule:
The courtesy rule is in effect that if you have two outs and your
catcher for the next inning
is on base, please inform the umpire and switch your last out into the
running position to
insure prompt change over at the end of your offensive half of the
inning. |
